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Kevin Garnett to Lakers?

This post has been bouncing around a number of sites, including a few affiliated with the NBA:

> KG is playing under an extension he signed in 2003. This> extension is unusual because it contained a significant> pay cut -- he went from $28M in 03-04 to $16M in 04-05.> Now why do you suppose he took such a big pay cut? When> you've figured that part out, look at the team as it's> constituted right now, and ask yourself if you think this> is what he had in mind when he gave up $15 million per> year. Once you've answered that part, stop to think> whether it's likely KG has a contingency plan, and in fact,> agreed to such a contingency plan with Glen Taylor when> he agreed to the pay cut.>> I think it's VERY reasonable to speculate that KG & Taylor> made a handshake deal in '03 that the T-Wolves would use> the savings to field a competitive team -- and in return> for accepting less, they would agree to trade him if the> team stopped being competitive and he requested it. The> team made the WCF in '04, but tanked in '05. Since then,> they've let 2/3 of their core go elsewhere, and made no> moves that would help make them competitive again. They> have a high payroll, and are flirting with the luxury tax.> What do you think KG is thinking right now? Do you think> there's a chance he called Taylor and said, "it's time?">> If Minnesota -IS- committed to trading KG, then KG is in> control over where he goes. He has a trade bonus, but> there's a rule that says salary + bonus can't exceed the> player's maximum salary in the year he's traded. KG's> salary alone exceeds the maximum, so in order for ANY> trade to happen, he'd have to waive his bonus. If there's> a trade he doesn't like, then he doesn't waive the bonus,> and the trade doesn't happen. It's effectively a no-trade> clause.>> If he is being traded and controls where he wants to go,> then there's reason to think he has the Lakers in mind. He> & Kobe are tight, and for years have been talking about> playing together someday. KG just built a house in LA. He> showed up at a Lakers SPL game. He was seen at an event> chatting up Buss, etc.>> If he told the Wolves to trade him to LA, then LA can put> together a reasonable package for him -- certainly better> than the one LA got for Shaq under similar duress. Odom> would directly replace KG in the lineup, plus they'd get a> starting C in Mihm, send DG home to play in Minnesota as a> last-year, and net a couple first rounders. (Kobe would not> be traded -- as Unabogie said, Kobe has a no-trade and would> not consent. Second, KG's intent is to play WITH Kobe, so> he wouldn't waive his bonus if Kobe is part of the trade.)>> Minnesota would also love to unload Wally's bloated contract.> They've tried, but have found no takers. If they made Wally> a condition of the trade, then LA could throw in Vlade, and> it would balance out. Vlade retires, and Minnesota saves his> entire salary.>> Possible objection #1: They would never trade KG to a WC team,> or McHale would never trade with the Lakers. Response: trades> of franchise players don't come from the GM, they come from> the owner. If KG has an arrangement with Taylor, then Taylor> just tells McHale, "get it done.">> Possible objection #2: Lakers are saving cap space for 2007.> Response: Kupchak said directly that their goal was 2007, but> if the right player came along, they'd scrap that plan. Could> be he had KG in mind when he made that statement. Whether he> did or not, KG would certainly qualify as someone to scrap the> cap room plan for, especially since the key '07 free agents> (Yao, Amare) now look like they won't be free.>> Again, this is just me putting together a scenario based on the> premise that the trade is real.>>> Larry Coon> University of California

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